MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Anderson D. Miamen, Executive Director of the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL), has criticized Speaker Richard Koon for failing to use a “common sense” approach in handling the dispute over Representative Yekeh Kolubah’s vehicle at the Capitol Building.
Writing on his official Facebook page on Tuesday, February 19, 2025, Miamen stated, “As a matter of rule, there are designated places for the Speaker and other leaders of the Legislature to park their vehicles. Representative Yekeh Kolubah should not have parked in the location designated for the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Doing so was wrong and a recipe for tension and conflict, in the wake of the existing issues.”
However, he argued that Speaker Koon and his allies mishandled the situation by breaking into Kolubah’s car instead of taking a more logical approach. “A simple thing like bringing a tow truck to remove the car would have been more mature and logical than breaking into the car and not achieving the objective of removing it,” Miamen stated. He added, “People look simple and ordinary but change overnight once they have power, like we are beginning to see with ‘majority block’s speaker’ Hon. Richard Koon.”
The controversy erupted on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, when Kolubah accused Speaker Koon of unlawfully entering his vehicle and taking several valuable items, including US$25,000 in cash, an iPhone, and a laptop. The incident occurred on the grounds of the Capitol Building, fueling tensions between the two lawmakers.
Kolubah, known for his outspoken nature, publicly expressed his outrage over the matter. “Richard Koon has illegally accessed my car and caused damage to it,” he claimed. He further threatened that if legal means fail to recover his belongings, he would take matters into his own hands. “If the court does not help me recover the items that went missing from my car, I will take action and destroy Richard Koon’s car,” he warned. Sarcastically, he added, “If I don’t do it, then my mother is my wife.”
Meanwhile, the dispute has intensified divisions within the House of Representatives, with concerns over security and trust among lawmakers. Kolubah has indicated that he will consult legal professionals regarding the incident, signaling possible legal action in the coming days.
